Auburn lands first 2028 commitment as Gadsden City QB Sam Sollie pledges to Tigers

Auburn secured its first commitment in the 2028 recruiting class on Saturday when quarterback Sam Sollie, a Gadsden City High School prospect, announced he is choosing the Tigers. Sollie grew up an Auburn fan, and the decision sets an early tone for Auburn’s 2028 quarterback pursuit as head coach Alex Golesh continues building out his future roster plans in the SEC.

According to the report, Sollie made the choice with Auburn’s offensive staff and program direction in mind, with Golesh specifically mentioned as a key factor in the commitment. For Auburn, landing an in-state quarterback this early matters because Alabama’s and the SEC’s quarterback recruiting cycles often intensify quickly, and the Tigers are trying to establish continuity on the recruiting trail well ahead of the season-to-season handoffs.

The Yahoo Sports report frames Sollie’s commitment as both a dream fulfillment and a competitive decision against several high-profile programs in the region. The other schools listed as top options include Alabama, Mississippi State and Tennessee. Each of those programs represents a distinct recruiting and development track in the SEC, so Sollie’s selection indicates Auburn believed it could win the fit while also keeping a meaningful recruiting advantage with local ties.

Sollie’s pledge also provides a clearer picture of how Auburn is approaching the next recruiting wave at the quarterback position. An early commitment can influence how a program prioritizes future recruiting visits, evaluation plans, and scholarship allocation windows. Even without public details on recruiting class size or scholarship availability, an opening commitment gives Auburn a tangible anchor target for 2028.

For Sollie, the commitment is a long-term investment, not a short-term fix. A 2028 prospect still has multiple seasons of high school football ahead, and most of the immediate focus will be on continued development, camp exposure, and staying on track with the competitive expectations that come with being recruited by major SEC programs. Auburn, meanwhile, can use this early relationship to strengthen offseason communication and training plans as the class matures.

The next questions for Auburn and Sollie are the ones that typically follow an early pledge: how his play progresses through his remaining high school seasons, and whether Auburn can convert additional commitments to surround a quarterback with the kind of offensive support that makes development easier. Recruiting is rarely linear, and the Tigers’ final 2028 class will be shaped by future evaluation, new offers, and changing needs across the roster.